8 Key Features to Consider When Choosing a New Smartphone

Nowadays, smartphones are a crucial part of day-to-day living.

From taking pictures, Internet browsing, saving documents, and communication – a mobile device plays multiple roles. But with countless varieties of smartphones in the market, it can be hard to decide which one is best for you.

To help you make the right decision, pay attention to these key features before you purchase a smartphone:

1. Storage

Many individuals make the mistake of buying cheaper mobile devices in an attempt to save money. What they don’t know is that cheaper smartphones also come with less storage.

Since you’ll need to download most smartphone apps, not having enough storage will limit how many apps you can use.

Consider buying a smartphone with a storage of at least 64GB especially if you’re fond of downloading games, music, and movies.

These days, apps and pictures take up a lot of space when not stored in the cloud. To expand your phone storage capacity, take into account a mobile device that has a microSD card slot as well.

2. Security

If you plan to store important and personal data in your smartphone, consider choosing one with extra security features such as an iris or fingerprint sensor.

Don’t just rely on a handset that can be locked or unlocked but also one that you can set passwords to protect certain documents or apps. Once you get your phone, consider getting mobile data backup from your service provider for added security.

3. Display

As you’ll be spending most of your time staring at your phone screen, make sure to buy one that’s sharp and bright enough.

This way, you can see the screen even when it’s sunny outdoors and read clear texts while surfing the Internet. If you plan to buy a mobile device with a large screen, mull over the following:

• Don’t go with a phone that has a resolution below 1920x1080p.
• Look for sharper 2560 x 1440 Quad HD resolutions if you have a bigger budget.
• Consider the screen size and check if you can easily swipe across it.

4. Battery

Battery life is an important aspect of your smartphone that will keep it running.

As much as possible, invest in a mobile device that can last an entire day. If you’re the type who always uses your smartphone until the battery drains completely, consider buying one with a fast-charging battery.

5. Processing power

A smartphone’s processing power depends on several factors such as UI, bloatware, and OS version.

If you’re a demanding phone user who needs to stream videos, play memory-heavy games, and edit documents online, a smartphone with a Snapdragon 820/821 or Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 will make multitasking easier for you.

Complement your phone’s amazing processing power with an Internet package that will keep you connected online.

6. Camera

If you love taking pictures to capture every moment spent with family and friends, make sure to get a phone with a great camera.

Consider a smartphone which is capable of taking good pictures even in low light. Budget phones usually don’t have good cameras so expect that you’ll be spending more if this is an important feature for you.

7. Build

Did you use to accidentally drop your old phone often?

The phone build is a crucial feature to consider in order to ensure that your smartphone is durable enough to withstand a drop test.

The handset market of today is divided into two kinds of builds – plastic and metal. If you are prone to dropping your phone, go for a plastic or metal built handset which can survive a drop from 2-3 feet.

8. Speakers and audio

The quality of speakers and audio coming out from your smartphone is vital for video conferences, calls, and heavy video streaming.

Choose a handset that has front-facing speakers so that you can enjoy clear sounds while holding your device in landscape mode.

Your smartphone choice depends greatly on your usage requirements.

Set a budget and determine which of the key features above you should prioritize when buying your phone. If you can afford to splurge, consider all the key features above for an efficient mobile device that can efficiently deliver all your needs.

AUTHOR BIO

Al-moottil P Antony

Al-moottil P Antony is a C-Suite Executive Support Professional for Zain, a leading mobile and data services operator with a commercial footprint in 8 Middle Eastern and African countries.